Age related singing skills and their progressive development from EYFS to end of KS2 will be explored through practical activities and repertoire suggestions.

There will be demonstrations and participation of singing, listening for quality and deepening confidence to lead and provide feedback to children for improving performance. 

From the early work of chanting and building confidence in use of voice to singing in parts and harmony, the development of singing skills helps to develop the child:  in EYFS a good foundation of consistent ‘singing’ runs parallel to language and speech development. The continuation of singing together in class and assemblies provides a shared experience of music making which runs deep into the physiological make up of our brains. We learn how to tune into each other, ourselves and the world around us when we raise our voices together.

This session will cover ways to develop the skills of singing in parts and in harmony in line with the curriculum and for performing as ensembles.

Participants will be given a range of resources for a wide, varied, inclusive and interesting age related repertoire aimed at getting all involved, including reluctant singers and changing voices.

The Model Music Curriculum defines the basic skills development in the key fundamental elements of pulse, rhythm and pitch as ‘musicianship‘. These musical concepts lie at the heart of all the interrelated dimensions of music. This session aims to, at minimum, secure the understanding of these through a series of activities and then scaffold the further progression through to end of KS2.

Participants will be involved in practical musical activities to help secure understanding and explore resources that can be used to help further their development. 

This session will highlight the music subject research and report from Ofsted, ‘Striking the Right Note’. It includes insights into how music is ‘learned’ and how it should effectively be ‘taught’. This session will also include videos from Christopher Stevens, HM National Lead for music and his latest advice and observations on music in education. 

When the new National Plan for Music Education landed on 25 June 2022, it included the statement: ‘In partnership with their music hub, we would like every school (including MAT’s) to have a Music Development Plan that captures the curricular and co-curricular offer and sets out how it will be staffed and funded.“

This session will give participants the opportunity to see and hear examples how a variety of other schools are completing their plans in line with the social and economical demands of schools in this geographical region.

 Participants will explore this creative process of ‘composition’ through practical activities with progression from EYFS to end of KS2. The session will aim to model the process of creativity through children exploring music first through the use of voice, performing using instruments, listening and exploring how music is structured and elements are used and then creating their own music.

The use of ‘notation’ to record compositions will be modelled using realistic, manageable and inclusive methods, including the use of graphics, dots, sticks and technology.